Some of the most famous arguments and problems in philosophy are based around thought experiments. In The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten, Jullian Baggini has collected together 100 entertaining examples, 100 thought experiments: short scenarios which pose a problem in a vivid and concrete way, and invites the reader to think about possible answers for himself. Experiments cover identity, religion, art, ethics, language, knowledge and many more. Each thought experiment is set up in one or two paragraphs, in some cases with lirerary examples, followed by a few hundred words of thought-provoking discussion or even awkward questions.
From «Zeno´s Paradox» to «Groundhog Day», via «The Pig that Wants to Be eaten» (so should you eat him?), «Plato´s Cave», «Minority Report» (is it right to punish people for what thery are going to do, but haven´t yet done?), and an «American Werewolf in London» (how can we tell whether we are awake or dreaming?), this book makes philosophy not only mind-streching but also entertaining.
Baggini offers us some intriguing questions about morality, animal rights, culture, science, changes in eating habits…
This book is ideal for reading in a flight or long journey as it can be read in a couple of sittings.